Splicing machine



June 4, 1957v D. w. c. SPENCER 2,794,490

SPLICING MACHINE Filed July 20, 1955 INVENTOR DUDLEY WALTER CYRIL SPENCER United States Patent O SPLICING MACH1NE Dudley Walter Cyril Spencer, Wilmington, Del., assig'nor to E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application Iuly 2G, 1955, Serial No. 523,329

14 Claims. (Cl. 154-42.1)

This invention relates to a splicing machine and more particularly to a machine for splicing perforated strips, films, foils, tapes and the like. Still more particularly it relates to a machine for slicing perforated motion picture film and sound recording film with a similarly perforated tape having a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive material. The invention further relates to a tape dispensing unit and aligning tape-feeding sprocket Wheel.

An object of this invention is to provide a machine for rapidly splicing perforated motion picture film, sound recording film and similarly perforated films. Another object is to provide such a machine which is simple in construction and dependable in operation. Yet another object is to provide such a machine Which is relatively economical to make and has a minimum of moving parts. A further object is to provide such a machine which accurately registers a perforated splicing tape with overlapping or abutting sections of perforated motion picture or sound recording lm to be spliced. Still other objects will be apparent from the following description of the invention.

A perforated tape splicing machine of this invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing which constitutes part of the present specification. Referring now to the drawing, wherein the same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the base unit of the splicing machine;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the base unit with parts in section and with two strips of` motion picture lrn in splicing position;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the dispenser unit (with parts shown in section) disposed on the base unit which is also shown in elevation with parts in section;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the dispenser unit disposed on the base unit taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. 3 with parts in elevation and broken section; and

Fig. 5 is an elevation of an alternative form of thrust plate and radial stop-block for aligning the sprocket wheel.

The base unit comprises a bedplate 1 having a side rail 2 fastened to each of its sides by means of screws 3. The space 4 between the inner wall 5 of each side rail and the side of the bedplate provides space for the roller guides on the dispenser casing (later described). Space 4 is essentially rectangular in shape but has a stop 6 near one end, which stop is provided with a resilient buffer 7. Guide plates S cover part of each space 4 and they are fastened to the upper surface of the guide rails by means of screws 9. Each guide plate has a lateral guideway and one end of the guide plate is spaced from stop 6 so as to provide a second guideway 10'. Attached to aside of the bedplate adjacent the guide plate by means of screws 11 is a combined thrust plate and radial stop- .alshoulder 14 and an upper surface 15.

Between the ends of the side rails and the ends of the bedplate are recesses 16 for film clamps 17 which are hinged at one end and are provided at the other end with a spring latch 18. One of the clamps is mounted on hinge pin 19 and the other on an elongated hinge pin 20 which extends beyond the end of the bedplate and has an enlarged end or head 21. Spring 22 surrounds this pin and presses against the head and knife 23 pivoted on hinge pin 20. Upon actuating the knife by means of handle 24, the knife coacts with xed cutter blade 25.

Near the fixed cutter blade is a small slidable plate 26 having registration pins 27 on its upper surface, which pins are adapted to interiit with the perforations in a perforated motion picture film or other perforated Web to be spliced. The slidable plate is provided with a narrow lateral slot 28 through which extends set-screw 29 for locking the slidable plate in adjusted position in recess 30 in the surface of the bedplate, the recess being wider than the slidable plate for such purpose. The cutter and slidable plate are provided for convenience in squaring up the ends of the perforated films to be spliced.

The upper surface of the bedplate (between the clamps 17 and adjacent the guide plates and thrust plate and stop-block) is provided with two pairs of registration pins 31 and registration holes 32 are disposed on each side of the pins in a row. For convenience, a resilient pad 33 is placed over the pins and holes to provide a yieldable surface in the film splicing area.

The tape dispensing unit or dispenser consists of an open-ended box-like casing 34 having side walls 35 which are provided with projecting portions or lugs 36 carrying outwardly extending stubshafts 37 on which there are rotatably mounted guide rollers 38.

Extending through and between side walls 35 there is an arbor 39 on which is mounted the core 40 of a roll 41 of perforated pressure-sensitive tape. Dragplate 42 presses against the roll and its sleeved end 43 is pivotally mounted ou shaft 44 (also extending through and between the side walls of the casing). If desired, the frictional drag of the pivoted dragplate can be increased by the addition of a torsion or other spring (not shown).

Revolubly mounted on shaft 45, the ends of which are disposed in the side walls of the casing, is a sprocket 46 having a bushing 47. One end of this sprocket is provided with a socket 48. Spring 49, surrounding shaft 45, fits into this socket and forces the sprocket sidewise into rm Contact with the thrust plate 12. The surface of the sprocket is divided into segments (three in the sprocket shown) by means of longitudinal slots 50. The surface of the sprocket between each slot and near each peripheral edge is provided with registration means consisting of a row of registration pins and holes. In the particular sprocket shown, the row consists of three pins 51, two holes 52 and then three pins. The end 53 of the sprocket which contacts with thrust plate 12 has cutaway wedgeshaped segments 54. The end walls S5 of these segments are straight and, with respect to the axis of the sprocket, are disposed in a radial direction. These end Walls are adapted to press against shoulder 14 on the combined thrust plate and radial stop-block. The latter, of course, can be made in two pieces but a single piece has obvious advantages. The face 56 of the wedge-shaped segments is preferably straight.

Longitudinal slots 50 terminate at one end in shallow radial slots 57 which are adapted to receive the nose 5S on one side arm 59 of a tape cutter having cross arm 60 extending between each side arm. Cutter blade 61 is removably mounted on this arm and can be locked into position by means of screw 62. The outer ends of the side arms are pivotally mounted on shaft 63 extending between the casing walls and having its ends mounted `Patented June 4, 1957` in said walls. through a suitable hole 65 in the casing and is actuated by means of button 66. Also pivotally mounted on shaft 63 is'a claw member 67, the outer endslof which, Aasbest shown in Fig. 4,V are' disposed close to'the registration pins'onV the sprocket and are adapted to help hold the perforated tape on the sprocket. Torsion springs 68 andV 69 are also mounted on shaft 63. One spring is arranged to force the claw downward and the other to force the key upward.

Spring 70, which is fastened to 'the bedplate by means of screw 71V in a recess ropposite guideway 10 in lower guide plate 8 of Fig. 1, has its freei'end disposed to tit in radial slots 57 and turns sprocket 46 in a counter-clockwise direction thereby pressing shoulder 55 of the appropriate wedge-shaped segmentfinto contact with the shoulder lon radial stop-block 12.

In Fig.l there is shown an alternative form of spring device for turning the sprocket. This device consists of a plunger 72 having a central collar portion 73 which lits in recess 74 in stop-block 12. Spring 7S surrounds the lower part of the plunger and forces it upward. The spring is held in place by means of set screw 76.

The operation of the tape splicing machine just de-V scribed will now be explained. Two strips'of motion picture film or similarly perforated magnetic sound iilm to be spliced are placed on registration pins 27 and the ends cut by means of knife 23. The perforations in the pressure-sensitive tape should be of the same size'and spacing as in the film to be spliced. However, they can be slightly larger or smaller in area. The ends of the iilms are then placed in abutting relation on registration pins 31, smoothed down and'clamped in place with clamps 17. The tape dispenser unit Vwhich has the pressure-sensitive tape threaded on the registration pins on two segments of the sprocket wheel is made ready for a splicing operation by actuating the tape cutter, whereby a short section of cut tape remains on the sprocket. The actuation of the perforated pressure-sensitive tape cutter by reason of nose 58 places the sprocket wheel in proper alignment so that when the dispenser casing is inserted in the base by pressing guide rollers 38 through'guideway 1t), the registration pins and holes will register with the pins and holes on the base. Due to the action of the nose member and spring 69, the end wall 55 of the wedge-shaped segment 54 will be pressed against shoulder 13 on the combined thrust plate and radial stop-block. At the same time, spring 49 presses the sprocket sidewise so that it is held against the thrust plate. The casing is thenV pushed forward in a horizontal direction until the guide roller strikes buffer 7. The dispenser is then lifted andi the guide rollers passed through guideway 10. During this operation, the strip of perforated tape T which was on the segment of the sprocket wheel becomes rmlyattachedV to the adjoining strips of perforated motion picture -iilm or sound recording tape F. The clamps are opened, the spliced film is lifted .from the registration pins, tu'rned over and placed down on the registration pins, the clamps applied and the splicing operation is repeated whereby a section of splicing tape is applied to both surfaces of the adjoining ends of the iilm element. The splicing can be smoothed with the finger or a suitable instrument to remove any bubbles formed during the splicing operation.

The invention is not limited to the speciiic device illustrated in the drawing, as obviously many changes in various detaiis can be made. For example, instead of using a three-segment sprocket wheel, two, four orV live segments can be used. The size of the sprocket and amount of tape to be applied to an extent vwill determine the number of segments.

The dispenser casing is preferably closed on the top, sides and ends and can be made in one piece or in several pieces which are welded or fastened together by screwsV or other suitable means. If desired, one sidecan be made removable so that a new roll of pressure-sensitive Key 64 attached to cross arm fextends.

tape can .be introduced.A TheA various shafts can be held in the casing walls by a force fit, swaged ends, set screws or spring rings.

If desired, the side rails and guide plates can be made in one piece. The size and shape can be varied to fit the particular type of guidesvon the casing.

Various types of clamps can be used -in place of the particular type shown and they can` be hinged and locked in position in any suitable manner.

The registration pins'both on the sprocket and bedplate should be accurately made so that at their lower ends they lit tightly into the perforations in the films to be spliced as well as in the perforations in thepres'sure-sensitive tape. For ease in applying the perforated lms and pressuresensitive tape, the pins are tapered or chamfered for a short distance from their upper ends.

If the splicing device is to be used for the splicing of magnetic sound tape, it is best not'to' have any magnetic materials in either unit. Brass, aluminum alloys and other non-magnetic alloys or metals can be used. In order. to have a durable strong construction, it is best to have the main parts made of metals, but plastic materials, e..g.,.

nylon, hard rubber, etc., can be used for certain parts.

The device described above obviously can be modified in various ways if desired and still` contain the essential operating parts. The tape dispensing unit can be used with different types of bases with modified guideways, etc.

While the construction shown is for doubly perforatedV motion picture iilm, by eliminating registration pins on one side of the sprocket wheel and base, the device can be used to splice narrow Width cine iilm having perforations along one edge.

The perforated tapes useful in the invention may con usual tacky adhesives are useful for the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer. Suitable adhesives are described in Drew U. S. Patent 2,177,627.

The tape splicing machine of this invention is not only useful in splicing abutting or overlapping. rstrips of a perforated web, e. g., iilm, but it can be used to mend a web which has been split, cracked, torn, etc.

The tape splicing machine of this invention has the advantages that it eliminates the use of solvent cements and the scraping of emulsions from the films. advantage is that strong splices can be readily obtained in dimly lighted rooms. Yet another advantage is that the device is easy to operate and gives dependable results over long periods of time. A further advantage is that one Vdoes not have to touch the tacky surface of the pressureand a stop-block, a coacting tape dispenser comprisinga casing having guides and containing'a revolubleregistration sprocket, and means for revolubly supporting a roll of perforated pressure-sensitive tape, said sprocket having equally spaced radial slots dividing it into segments, each' segment having at least one circumferential row of registration pins and holes which are adapted to receiveV said registration pins on said bedplate, an end of the sprocket having a radial stop in each segment, means for-forcing said sprocket in an axial direction and-means for forcing.y

said stop in a radial direction.

2. A machine as setforth inclaim 1 whereinsaid bed-A Another/ plate is provided with clamps for holding the web to he spliced. Y

3. A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sprocket is divided into three segments.

4. A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said beilplate and sprocket are provided with two rows of coacting registration pins and registration holes.

5. A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said thrust plate and stop-block are integral.

6. A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said casing is provided with means for cutting pressure-sensitive tape on said sprocket.

7. A machine as set forth in claim 5 wherein said tape cutting means is provided with means for guiding the cutter blade into said slots.

8. A tape splicing machine comprising a bedplate having juxtaposed registration pins for registering in splicing position a perforated film to be spliced, guideways, a thrust plate and a stop-block, a coacting tape dispenser comprising a casing having a top, side and end walls, guides on its outer side walls, and containing a revoluble registration sprocket, and means for revolubly supporting a roll of perforated pressure-sensitive tape, said sprocket having equally spaced radial slots dividing it into segments, each segment having at least one circumferential row of registration pins and holes which are adapted to receive said registration pins on said bedplate, an end of the sprocket having a radial stop in each segment, spring means for forcing said sprocket in an axial direction and spring means for forcing said stop in a radial direction.

9. A machine as set forth in claim 8 wherein said bedplate has a resilient surface in the area adjacent said juxtaposed registration pins.

10. A machine as set forth in claim 8 wherein said bedplate is provided with clamps for holding said film to be spliced.

11. A machine as set forth in claim 8 wherein said guides are roller guides.

12. A tape dispenser unit comprising a casing having a top, side and end walls, guides on its outer side walls, said casing containing a revoluble registration sprocket and means for revolubly supporting a roll of perforated pressure-sensitive tape, said sprocket having equally spaced radial slots dividing it into segments, each segment having at least one circumferential row of registration pins and holes which are adapted to interfit with registration means, one end of said sprocket having a radial stop in each segment and the other having shallow radial 'aligning slots at the ends of said radial slots.

13. A dispenser unit as set forth in claim 12 wherein said sprocket is divided into three segments.

14. A registration sprocket for a tape dispenser having equally spaced radial slots dividing it into segments, each segment having at least one circumferential row of registration pins and holes which are adapted to interit with registration means, one end of said registration sprocket having a radial stop in each segment and the other having shallow radial aligning slots at the ends of said radial slots.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,121,765 Schultze Dec. 22, 1914 1,994,913 Howell Mar. 19, 1935 2,002,554 Townley May 28, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS 297,576 Great Britain Sept. 27, 1928 

